Latest Penguins Buzz

Michael Rupp needs to provide more of a “toughness presence”?

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It’s hard to be critical of forward Michael Rupp who is having a career year but one area of Rupp’s game that has been lacking of late is the toughness department.

Although Rupp has exceeded expectations scoring 11 goals through 52 games, Rupp’s an asset on this team in a 4th line physical role and the Penguins know that.

The Penguins brought Rupp in on a two year deal to be a physical presence who will mix things up. The 11 goals thus far from Rupp has been an added bonus but I have talked to a few sources in the “know” who have been somewhat concerned that the flirtation of Rupp playing on the first or second line for a game here and there has made him become less of an intimidating presence on the ice.

Is Rupp’s focus more on being a goal scoring presence than a physical presence? I don’t think so, Rupp does lead the Penguins with 7 fighting majors, but in games like Sunday’s against Philadelphia, he has lacked that toughness presence after recording only one hit in 10:22 of ice time.

J.P. Barry, agent for Gonchar to meet with Pens’ management this week

Contract talks between Penguins general manager Ray Shero and J.P. Barry the agent for Sergei Gonchar will heat up this week.

Barry is due in Pittsburgh later this week to meet with Penguins management.

A source directly involved in the talks, says Pittsburgh will tender their first official offer by this weekend. Both sides expect talks to go into the Olympic break.

It has been floated around that Pittsburgh will prospose a two year offer worth close to $5 million per season and a three year offer in the $4-$4.25 million range.

Aaron Asham calls Matt Cooke “gutless”

Matt Cooke scored the game winning goal in Sunday’s 2-1 win and also got under Aaron Asham’s skin. “He’s a gutless guy,” Aaron Asham said. “I have no respect for him.”

Trade Buzz: Thursday’s 1-for-1 trade of young underperforming players saw the Minnesota Wild acquire center Victor Rask from the Carolina Hurricanes for left winger Nino Niederreiter. Carolina did an excellent job of being able to get out of the Rask contract, who has three years remaining with a $4 million cap hit. Rask has 1 goal, 5 assists on the season, mirrored in a 22-game goal drought. The logic here for Minnesota is taking the chance on a playmaking center who can help fill a top-9 spot longer term if the Wild move on from Eric Staal. Minnesota is also playing the card that a change of scenery will benefit the 24-year old who posted a career-high 21 goals, 48 points in 2015-2016.

Niederreiter’s trade value was stunted because of his contract, where he has three years left on his deal with a $5.25 million cap hit. Niederreiter is a player who is extremely hard to play against, drives possession well, and has three 20 goal seasons over his last four full seasons. Injuries (18 goals in 63 games) kept him from a 4th straight 20-goal season in 17-18. The Niederreiter acquisition also sets up as great insurance for the Hurricanes if they can’t resign Micheal Ferland. In the short-term, Carolina’s center situation is a mess with Jordan Staal sidelined with a concussion, but they’re getting the better player who fits the identity they’re trying to establish upfront, especially on the wings where they’ve identified the need for Patric Hornqvist type players.